Sabathia shakes off rough finale

Sabathia shakes off rough finale

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CC Sabathia does not have the greatest of spring training finales.

MIAMI CC Sabathias fastball command deserted him during his final spring tuneup, but the ace left no doubt that hell be ready Friday against the Rays on Opening Day.

Sabathia allowed three runs on four hits and two walks in four innings, striking out three in the Yankees 10-8 win over the Marlins Sunday at Marlins Park.

Usually Im not that bad, Sabathia said. Today, I was bad. Ill work hard in my bullpen to make sure Im getting my fastball where it needs to go.

Sabathia said fastball command is always a worry for me, but the fact that it was off Sunday doesnt mean it wont be there for him Friday against the Rays.

My arm felt great, my command was just a little off, Sabathia said. I couldnt get in any good counts for myself. I was able to get out of some jams and make some pitches. Im not going to have any success if I cant throw the fastball over the plate.

Joe Girardi said Sabathia was a little bit under the weather Sunday, but the manager isnt concerned at all about his aces lack of command.

I think itll be there when the bell rings, I really do, Girardi said.Sabathia finished the spring with a 5.00 ERA, allowing 21 hits and four walks in 18 innings.

I got ready for Opening Day, Sabathia said. Ill be ready on Friday. Would I like to have had more success? Sure. But my pitches are doing what theyre supposed to. Im ready.

TEST RUN
Nick Swisher played six innings Sunday, going 2-for-3 with a solo home run. Swisher had no problems with his sore left groin, though he admitted he was playing it safe, especially on a foul ball down the line that he didnt go all-out for.

I wouldnt say that Im 100, but Im pretty close, Swisher said. Im not quite ready to take the chains off, yet. Im trying to play smart. Ive been a guy that takes pride in being on the field every day, playing every day. Im not going to put myself in jeopardy of banging it up any more.

Swisher missed most of the past two weeks with a pair of minor groin injuries, spending Wednesday through Friday playing in minor-league games. . . Yankees signed RHP Jason Bulger to a minor-league contract and assigned him to Triple-A Scranton. . . . Mariano Rivera gave up his first run of the spring, allowing two hits in an inning against the Marlins. It was the first earned run allowed by Rivera in a spring game since 2008.